Weather screen apparatus

ABSTRACT

A weather screen includes a cover having a handle and a flexible material that is secured to the cover. The handle of the cover is grasped by a user to support the cover away, and preferably above, the user&#39;s head. The material extends downwardly or hangs from the cover such that the user is enclosed or surrounded by the material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a personal canopy for protecting a userfrom the weather. More specifically, the invention concerns a canopyhaving a material enclosure that surrounds a user and thereby protectshim or her from adverse weather.

2. Reference to Related Art

It can be generally appreciated that when a person walks out of a salonwith a new hairstyle or is wearing a new pair of clothes, it is thatpersons desire that their hair, clothing, etc. should be maintained in afresh and original condition for as long as possible. However, weatherconditions, such as wind, rain and sun, may not cooperate with thedesires of the individual. Therefore, in order to protect a user fromthe elements the prior art has developed various devices to shield theuser from adverse weather.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,412,415 to Navon discloses a combinationumbrella and cape. The umbrella is worn as a garment that is draped overthe user's shoulders. A plurality of rods and cross members arepositioned around the exterior edge of the umbrella to rigidly extendthe base of the umbrella away from the user so that the entire devicetakes on a bell shape.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,014,281 to Smith discloses an envelope of flexiblematerial that is sealed along an upper edge and open at the bottom. Inoperation, the user stands inside the envelope with the upper edge ofthe envelope of material contacting the user's head.

A device similar to the Smith envelope is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No.4,541,128. However, instead of an envelope, an opening for the user'shead is defined in the top of the garment and a pair of exterior flapsare provided to form a hood for the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,521 discloses the use of a transparent sheet that issecured about the user's head by an elastic band. Perforations areprovided in the sheet proximate the user's face to permit the user tobreathe.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,513 discloses a protective garment having a hoodportion that supports a flexible hoop. In operation, fabric is drapedfrom the hoop to substantially encompass the user.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,034 discloses a device for surrounding thebody of the user. The device includes an inflatable circular cap that issupported on the head of the user. A curtain is suspended from the capand surrounds the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a protective screen apparatus foruse in shielding a user from the weather. Preferably, the screenincludes a cover having a handle that is grasped by a user to supportthe cover away from the head of the user. A flexible material is securedto the cover and adapted to be suspended from the cover such that thebody of the user is substantially enclosed by the material. In analternative embodiment, a foot cover is provided for the feet and legsof the user. Each cover encloses one foot of the user and extends up theuser's leg beyond the end of the material. As such, a user 1 of thealternative embodiment 100 is provided with head to toe protectionagainst the elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention will be had uponreference to the attached drawings wherein like reference numerals referto like parts throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a weather screen apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the present invention shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pair of weather screen apparatussecured together;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a weather screen apparatus having aplurality of indicia thereon;

FIG. 5, is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment weatherscreen apparatus that includes covers for the users feet and legs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a preferred embodimentfor a weather screen 10 apparatus constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. Preferably, the weather screen 10 includes a cover 12having a handle 14 and a flexible material 16 that is secured to andsuspending from the cover 12. The handle 14 of the cover 12 is graspedby a user 1 to support the cover 12 away, and preferably above, theuser's 1 head 2. The material 16 extends downwardly or hangs from thecover 12 such that the user 1 is enclosed or surrounded by the material12.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover 12 and handle 14 arepreferably constructed as a conventional expandable umbrella “U” havinga domelike shape with an outside edge 18. As such, it will beappreciated that the cover 12 may be constructed from a variety ofmaterials such as a cloth or a polymer, and the handle 14 and anyassociated expansion elements for the umbrella may be constructed ofaluminum, plastic or the like. Indeed, the wide range of availablematerials, the weather screen 10 may be constructed to have a longservice life or as a disposable product.

The flexible material 16 is preferably constructed integral with thecover 12. As such, the material 16 may be formed from a continuous pieceof material with the cover 12 or may be secured to the outside edge 18of the cover 12 by sewing or the like. Alternatively, the material 16may be constructed as an envelope of material into which the cover 12 isplaced such that the material 16 is suspended from or hangs down overthe cover 12. Preferably, the material is a transparent material, suchas sheet of transparent polymer, a cloth veil, etc.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an opening 20 is defined in thematerial 16 to assist the user 1 in entering and exiting the enclosedarea defined by the material 16. A fastener 22 is provided proximate theopening 20 that permits the user 1 to seal or otherwise close theopening 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the fastener 22 can include a zipper.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a pair of weather screens 10 can be securedtogether along their openings 20 using their respective fasteners 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, and particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, indiciasuch as decorations 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2), advertising logos 32 (FIG. 3) orgeneral graphics 34 (FIG. 4) may be added to the exterior of the cover12 or the material 16.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown an alternative embodiment for aweather screen 100 apparatus constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. Preferably, the weather screen 100 includes a cover 12 havinga handle 14 and a flexible material 16 that is secured to and suspendingfrom the cover 12. The handle 14 of the cover 12 is grasped by a user 1to support the cover 12 away, and preferably above, the user's head. Thematerial 16 extends downwardly or hangs from the cover 12 such that theuser is enclosed or surrounded by the material 12. Additionally, a footcover 36 is provided for the feet 3 and legs 4 of the user 1. The footcovers 36 are a loose-fitting boot-like covering that is waterproof (orat least water resistant) and formed from rubber, plastic or the like.Preferably, each cover 36 encloses one foot of the user 1 and extends upthe user's 1 leg 4 above the end 38 of the material 16. As such, a user1 of the alternative embodiment 100 is provided with head to toeprotection against the elements.

Having thus described my invention, various embodiments will becomeapparent to those having skill in the art that do not depart from thescope of the present invention.

1. A protective screen apparatus for use in shielding a user fromweather, the apparatus comprising: a cover having a handle, the handlebeing graspable by a user to support the cover away from the head of theuser; and a flexible material suspended from said cover, the materialextending downwardly from the cover such that the body of the user is atleast partially enclosed by the material.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said cover is an umbrella, the umbrella having an outside edge.3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said flexible material is securedto the outside edge of the umbrella.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said flexible material is integral with said cover.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexible material is transparent. 6.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover further comprises indicia.7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexible material furthercomprises indicia.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexiblematerial defines an opening.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, furthercomprising a fastener for use in closing said opening.
 10. A protectivescreen apparatus for use in shielding a user from weather, the apparatuscomprising: a first and a second protective screen, each of said screensincluding a cover having a handle, the handle being graspable by a userto support the cover away from the head of the user; a flexible materialsuspended from the cover, the material extending downwardly from thecover such that the body of the user is substantially enclosed by thematerial and defining an opening; and a fastener for closing saidopening; the fasteners of said first and second protective screen beingsecured to each other about their respective openings such that thefirst and second protective screens are secured together.
 11. Aprotective screen apparatus for use in shielding a user from weather,the apparatus comprising: a cover having a handle, the handle beinggraspable by a user to support the cover away from the head of the user;a transparent flexible material positioned on the cover, the materialextending downwardly from the cover such that the body of the user issubstantially enclosed by the material, the material defining anopening; and a fastener positioned on the material proximate the openingfor closing the opening.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidcover further comprises indicia
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid flexible material further comprises indicia.
 14. A protectivescreen apparatus for use in shielding a user from weather, the apparatuscomprising in combination: a cover having a handle, the handle beinggraspable by a user to support the cover away from the head of the user;a flexible material suspended from said cover, the material extendingdownwardly from the cover to an end such that a body of the user is atleast partially enclosed by the material; and a first and a second footcover, each of said first and second foot covers enclosing a foot of theuser extending up a leg of a user above the end of the material.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover is an umbrella, the umbrellahaving an outside edge.
 16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein saidflexible material is secured to the outside edge of the umbrella. 17.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexible material is integralwith said cover.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexiblematerial is transparent.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidcover further comprises indicia.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid flexible material further comprises indicia.